Musical instrument



9 D. w. PAUL 1,969,147

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l g- 1934. D. w. PAUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O O Filed Feb. 18, 1932 m0 OzQmO OH 2 2 AQ O O/O O0 0 0 0 OO/OOAOZ OOOOOU QQ Q O\O OOOQ Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Donald W. Paul, Elgin, Ill.

Application February 18, 1932, Serial No. 593,758

8 Claims. (01. 84-95) My invention relates to musical instruments, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved arrangement of parts by which a piece of music may be mechanically set up by a child on a holder member and then played by a rotary movement of said holder with respect to a cooperating member provided with a series of vibrating parts. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement of this type in which a series of actuators may be placed in any desired adjusted position on a holder member for causing the vibratory parts to sound in predetermined order and timed relation for producing the desired piece of music. It is an- 5 other object of my invention to provide a device of this type in which the vibratory parts tuned to a pre-determined tone relationship to each other may be caused to sound successively in the desired order.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved device of this character in which the holder member is arranged in simulation of a music staff adapted to receive actuators in the desired adjusted positions in rows 5 representing the lines and spaces of a staff, such actuators corresponding on such lines and spaces to the notes of an ordinary staff of music, the arrangement being such that, upon the rotation of one of said members with respect to the other,

3 tones will be produced by the various vibratory members in the required order and timed relation for producing the piece of music indicated by the simulated staff.

It is one of the objects of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I belieye to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the preferred form of my device;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken at line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a face View of a portion of the wall of the cylinder as shown in Fig. 1, but with the wall straightened out flat in developed form; and

Fig. 4 is a view of a fragmentary portion of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but involving certain modifications.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the, same reference characters,-

10 and 11 indicate two cylindrical discs of wood or other suitable material connected together by a piece of sheet metal 12. Within the cylinder formed by the discslo and 11 and the'sheet metal 12, I have mounted a block 13, preferably of wood,by means of a shaft 14 revolubly mounted in the discs 10 and 11. The shaft 14 is provided at one end with a crank arm 15 having a handle 16 at its outer end. The arrangement is such that the block 13 can be rotated within the cylinder about the shaft 14 through the medium of the crank.

In the form of device as shown in Fig. 1, the block 13 is provided at one end with a series of reeds 17 rigidly secured in position thereon so as to extend beyond the end of the block upon which they are mounted. The reeds 17 are of such size and shape and are so arranged that when they are caused to vibrate in order they produce a musical scale. In the particular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the several reeds 17 are arranged to correspond to the key of F major, or the key of one flat as it is sometimes called. The reeds 17 are arranged to extend into close proximity to the wall 12 of the cylinder so that when the block 13 is rotated the'ends of the reeds traverse the inner face of the wall of the cylinder.

Opposite each of the reeds 17, I have provided a series of screw threaded openings 18 through the sheet metal Wall 12, such openings 18 being arranged in rows both longitudinally of the cylinder and circumferentially of the cylinder as is best shown in Fig. 3. For insertion in the openings 18 so as to be held rigidly in position therein, I have provided a series of screw threaded pins 19, as is best shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement of the pins 19 being such that when the block 13 is rotated with respect to the cylinder the ends of the reeds 17 are brought into operative engagement with the pins 19 in position in the openings 18 so as to cause the reeds to vibrate and sound.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a series of actuator pins such as the pin 19 in position in certain selected ones of the openings 18, such actuator pins being numbered from 20 to 29 respectively. As shown in said Fig. 3, the pins 20 and 21 are mounted in two consecutive openings 18 opposite to the A reed; the pin 22 in the next adjacent transverse row of openings 18 is located in the circumferential row opposite the F reed; the pin 23 in the next transverse row is opposite the A reed; and the pins 24, 25, 26, and 27 located respectively in the next succeeding transverse rows are located opposite the G reed, the E reed,

the G reed, and the F reed; the actuator pins 28 and 29 are likewise located in the circumferential row opposite the F reed, the pin 28 being located in the second transverse row following that in which the pin 27 is located rather than in the next succeeding row. As will be readily understood, when the block 13 is rotated in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 within the drum or cylinder with the parts arrangedas shown diagrammaticaly in Fig. 3, the successive tones will be AA-F-AGE-G-FFF-. Each of such tones will be of the same effective duration up to the time when the next succeeding tone begins,provided of course the rotation of the block 13 has been uniform,with' the exception of the eighth tone which will be of- 'double time value as compared with each of the other tones. As will be readily understood,'the arrangement of the actuator pins in the openings 18 as shown in Fig. 3 and as above described is referred to as being merely illustrative; The pins might just as well have any other predetermined arrangement as desired for producing any other tune or succession of notes as might be desired.

' While I havesshown inyFig. 3 only a single.

series of actuator pins in position in the several rows of openings, it will be understood that .two or more sets of pins might be used if desired to produce harmony as well as melodyi In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the outer face of the. cylinder is provided with lines'30 at opposite sides of each alternate circumferential row .of openings 18. The lines 30 at opposite sides of the row of openings farthest toward the right in said figure are broken lines so as to distinguish from the remaining lines 30. As will be appreciated, the broken lines 30 indicate the ledger line first below the staff; the adjacent row of openings 18 without any lines 30 corresponds to the first space below the staff; the row of openings 18 marked E corresponds to the first line at the bottom of the staff. With each alternate circumferential row of openings 18 indicated as a line, and with each intermediate rowof openings 18 indicated as a space, and with the ledger lines shown as broken to distinguish from. the five regular lines of the staff, the outer face of the cylinder is seen to simulate closely a staff of music in accordance with the ordinary notation. Inasmuch as the reeds 17 opposite the several circumferential rows of openingscorrespond in pitch arrangement with the designations as above referred to, it will be appreciated that when a piece of musicis set up on the. simu- 'lated staff with the actuator pins 1!? representing the notes, an arrangement is attained which is adapted upon the rotation of the block 13 to produce the piece of music so set up. on the simulated staff. The letters opposite the different lines and spaces as shown in Fig. 3 are preferably employed on the face of the drum at one ormore points thereabout for assisting in an appreciation of what the staff indicates.

I By the use of my improved arrangement :as above described, I am enabled to set up and play any simple piece of music, the pitch being controlled by the selection of the circumferential rows in which the pins 19 are mounted and the time being controlled by the selection of the transverse rows in which the actuators 19' are mounted. By the use of my improved device as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and3; a child can learn in a practical way a great deal about music, very likely passed unnoticed and unappreciated in the course of instruction in ac-.

cordance with ordinary methods. While the device is designed primarily for use as a toy, it will be appreciated that refinements might readily be introduced by which the device could be made to have artistic merit. While I have employed reeds 17, preferably of metal, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to this type of vibratory part, since other forms of vibrators might readily. be substituted. Inv Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form in which the successive reeds 1'7 are tuned to correspond to a chromatic scale rather than to a diatonic scale as shown in Fig. 1. As will be readily appreciated, when an arrangement such as is shownin Fig. 4 is employed, a piece of 'rather than being restricted to any particular key, as the device of Fig. 1 is for example restricted to the key of F major. The arrangement of "Fig. 4 would have the disadvantage that the face of the cylinder could not be arranged in close simulation to the staff as can readily be done as above described when the reeds are tuned to correspond to some particular diatonic scale.

The form of device as'shown' in my drawings is presented as being merely illustrative of the principles of my invention, and my invention is not'to be limited in any way to the form of device as shown in the drawings except so far as my claims may be so limited by the prior art. I claim:- 1. In a device of the type described, the com-' bination of two members movably mounted with respect to each other, a series of vibratory parts mounted on one of said members and tuned to a pre-determined tone relationship, said other, member being provided with a series of openings opposite the several vibratory parts adapted to receive and hold a series of actuators in position at different points along lines extending in the direction of the relative movement of the members so as to cause said vibratory parts to sound when the members are given a relative movement, and actuators removably mounted in said openings and shiftable to different positions along said lines for causing said vibratory parts to sound in the desired predetermined order and timed relation.

' 2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a cylindrical member, a second member within said cylindrical member and revoluble about the axis of the cylinder, a series of vibratory parts mounted on said second member and tuned to a pre-determined' tone relationship, said cylindrical member being provided with a series'of openings through its wall op posite the several vibratory parts adapted to receive and hold a series of actuators in position at different points along lines extending 'circumferentially of the cylinder so as to'cause said vibratory parts to sound when the members are given a relative rotary movement, and actuators removably mounted in said openings and shiftable to different positions along said lines for causing said vibratory parts to sound in the desired predetermined order and timed relation.

V 3. In a device of the type described, the combination of a cylindrical member, a second member within said cylindrical member and revoluble about the axis of the cylinder, a series of vibratory parts mounted on said second member and tuned to a pre-determined tone relationship, said cylindrical member being provided with a series of sockets in its wall opposite the Ink several vibratory parts each adapted to receive and hold an actuator so as to cause the corresponding vibratory part to sound when the members are given a relative rotary movement, said sockets being arranged in rows both circumferentially and longitudinally of the cylinder for receiving said actuators at different points circumferentially of the cylinder, and actuators removably mounted in selected ones of said sockets at different points along said rows for causing said vibratory parts to sound in predetermined order and timed relation.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination of a cylindrical member, a second member within said cylindrical member and revoluble about the axis of the cylinder, a series of vibratory parts mounted on said second member and tuned to a pre-determined tone relationship, said cylinrical member being provided with a series of screw threaded openings through its wall opposite the several vibratory parts each adapted to receive and hold a screw threaded actuator pin so as to cause the corresponding vibratory part to sound when the members are given a relative rotary movement, said screw threaded openings being arranged in rows both circumferentially and longitudinally of the cylinder for receiving said actuator pins at different points circumferentially of the cylinder, and actuator pins removably mounted in selected ones of said screw threaded openings at different points along said rows for causing said vibratory parts to sound in pre-determined order and timed relation.

5. In a device of the type described, the combination of a holder member having a surface lined to represent the lines and spaces of a staff of music and arranged to receive and hold a series of actuators in adjusted positions along said lines and spaces, actuators mounted on said holder member in any desired position thereon corresponding to the positions of the notes on the staffs of different pieces of music, a second member revolubly mounted with respect to said holder member, a series of vibratory parts mounted on said second member tuned to correspond to said lines and spaces and arranged so that when said second member is revolved with respect to said holder member said actuators serve to cause said vibratory parts to sound in pre-determined order and timed relation in accordance with the relation of said simulated notes on the staff, and means for rotating said second member with respect to said holder member.

6. In a device of the type described, the combination of a holder member in the form of a hollow cylinder having rows of openings through its wall arranged both circumferentially and longitudinally of the cylinder with alternate circumferential rows differentiated from intermediate circumferential rows in simulation of the lines and spaces respectively of a staff of music, said openings being adapted to receive and hold a series of actuators removably in selected positions therein, a second member revolubly mounted in said cylinder on the axis thereof, vibratory parts mounted on said second member and tuned to a pre-determined tone relationship corresponding with said lines and spaces, means for revolving said second member, and actuator pins removably mounted in selected openings adapted upon rotation of the second member in the cylinder to engage and set in vibration selected vibratory parts in predetermined order and timed relation corresponding to the simulated music notation on the cylinder.

7. In a device of the type described, the combination of a hollow cylinder, a shaft journaled in axial position in said cylinder, a block fixed on said shaft within said cylinder, a series of reeds mounted on said block at one end in such arrangement that upon rotation of the block and shaft in the cylinder said reeds pass along the inner face of the wall of the cylinder in close proximity thereto, said reeds being of such relative size and shape and being so arranged that the vibrations of the several reeds in the order of their arrangement correspond to the successive tones of a music scale, the Wall of the cylinder being provided with a row of openings therethrough opposite the path of movement of each of said reeds, and a series of actuator pins adapted to be mounted in and held by selected openings of the several rows of openings in different arrangements corresponding to the notes on the staffs of different pieces of music and in position to engage said reeds for causing them to vibrate in pre-determined order and timed relation when the block is revolved on said shaft.

8. In a device of the type described, the combination of a hollow cylinder, a shaft journaled each of said reeds, and a series of screw threaded actuator pins adapted to be mounted in and held by selected openings of the several rows of openings in difierent arrangements corresponding to the positions of the notes on the staffs of diiferent pieces of music and in position to engage said reeds for causing them to vibrate in pro-determined order and timed relation corresponding in each case to the piece of music in question when the block is revolved on said shaft.

DONALD W. PAUL. 

